Speedometer mounting for vehicles



Nov. 20, 1928. A Y n w.. H. WHEELER Sllm IOUITIHG FOR VEHICLES Filed S'pt. 20'.. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

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n INVEN TOR. PWM/AM f7. ME'ELEH BYIQT/W/M/Mb ATTORNEY Nov. 20, 1928.

1,692,601 w. H. WHEELER SPEEDONETER MOUNTING FOR VEHICLES V mea sept. 2o, 192e 2 sheets-511m 2 A TTORNE Y Patented Nov. 20, l928.

UNITED' STATES PATENT FFICE.

WILLIAM E. WHEELER, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

SPEEDOMETER MOUNTING FOR VEHICLES.

Application led September 20, 195MB. Serial No. 136,505.

, stantially in line with the line of vision of the to provide a rigid drive shaft means for av driver and as close to the eyes of the driver as possible, thus determining the speed of the vehicle with least danger to the driver and other occupants; second, to provide a steering post and steering wheel for automobiles which are so constructed that a. speedometer may be mounted on the steering post at the middle rtion of the steering wheel and substantially flush with the hub portion of the steering wheel, thus rigidly mounting the speedometer in plain view of the driver and in such a manner as not to interfere with the vision and necessary movements of the driver; third, to provide a steering post and steering wheel for automobiles which are so constructed as to receive and support a speedometer at the upper end ofthe steering post and at the middle portion of the steering wheel and to one side of the axis of the wheel so as to provide a convenient space for a si al button or other switch mechanism at t e opposite side of the axis of the wheel and on the sta tionary portion at the middle portion thereof; fourth, to provide as a whole a novelly constructed and arranged mounting for a speedometer in connection with the steering post and steering wheel of an automobile; fifth,

speedometer mounted von the steering post, which drive shaft means extends through the steering post, thus materially decreasing thelength of the flexible cable usually employed in connecting a. revolving part of the automobile with the speedometer; and', sixth, to provide a speedometer mounting, in connection with the steering post and steering wheel of an automobile, which is simple and ecoq nomical of construction, durable and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail, and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference had to the acmounted companying drawings and to the characters of reference thereonwhich form a part of this applic ation, in which V Figure 1 isl a fragmentary view of an automobile steerinor wheel taken from the drivers side thereof, showing the speedometer mounted at the middle portion of the steering Awheel; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through 2- 2 of Fig. 3, showing the construction of the upper end of the steering post below the steering wheel; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken through 3-3 ofF ig. 1, showing the construction and arrangement of the steering post, steering wheel and associated members and showing the speedometer mounted at the upper end of the steering'post; and, Fig. 4 is a fragmentar sectional Vview thereof taken through 1--41 o Fig. 1.

Like characters of reference refer to similar' parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

Inthe steering post construction of certain types of conventional automobiles, -the steering shaft or tube and also the ignition and fuel controls, as well as certain electric cables, extend through or are ,directly associated with a stationary hollow post. Such a construction and arrangement is illustrated in the drawings and will be briefly described hereafter.

The steering post 1 is rigidly mounted on the automobile frame in any suitable manner.

vWithin the post 1, which is in the form of a tube, is rotatably mounted the steering tube 2 to the upper end of which is secured the metallic hub member 3 of the steering wheel, the lower end of the hub. member 3 extending around the upper end of the steerlng post 1. To the upper or outer side of the hub member 3, is secured the annular portion 4a of the steering wheel et. '12o the opposite end of the steering tube 2, is secured a worm which is adapted to drive the steering worm gear 6 mounted in a casing 7 The casing 7 1s sesu .l

cured tothe lower end of the steering post 1' and rotatably supports the lower end of the steering tube. Within the tube 2 is rotatably the fuel control tube 8 and within the latter is rotatably mounted the ignition control tube 9. Said tubes are provided at their upper ends with control levers 10 and 11 respectively which extend preferably beyond the upper side of the annular portion or hub portion of the steering wheel. To the lower ends of the tubes 8 and 9, are secured the fuel and ignition operating levers 12 and boss 15h of the cap 15 by means of a nut 24. 13. Within t e ignition tube 9, is nonrotat- Thusthe length of the usual flexible cable ably mounted the tube 14 which usually ex.- is considerably reducedl tends beyond the u per andlower ends of the The electric cable 25 for the signal button tubes 8 and 9 an is fixedly secured at its 18 extends, preferably, backwardly through lower end, in any suitable manner, to the the supporting member 16 into the upper end gear casing 7 `or the steering post 1. The 1 of the stationary tube 1 4, through the head means shown in the drawings consists of a' member 22, through the tube 14 alongside the cap for the lower end of the tube 14, which speedometer shaft tube and out through the cap is provided with arms 15l vsecured to the `head of the cap 15. gear Casin 7. At the upper end of the stavThe arms or levers l() and 11, for controb tionary tu l14 is usually provided a stationling the fuel and ignition, are preferably ary support in which is mounted a signal positioned at the opposite sides ofthe electric button or other switch means, the electric cable 25, as shown best in Fig. 2, so as not to cable, connecting the same to the mechanism interfere with the same. to be controlled, extending through the Though I have shown and described a partube 14. v ticular construction` combination and ar- In my construction I have provided a re1a' rangement of mounting a speedometer and tively large and deep supporting member 16 also a signal button in connection with the which is positioned within the annular porsteering post and steering wheel of an autotion 4 of the steering wheel and an in- Inobile, Ido not wish to be limited to this parwardly oifset recess in the hub member 3, ticular construction, combination and arand is secured at its under or inner side to rangement but desire to include in the scope the end`of the stationary inner tube 14, exofmy invention the construction, combination tending beyond the fuel and ignition tubes. and arrangement substantially as set forth in The large supporting member 16 is spaced at the appen ed claims. its peripheral portion from the annular por- Having thus described my invention, what tion 4EL of the steering wheel and also from I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersV the hub member 3 so as to provide sufficient Patent is: space for the fuel and ignition levers 10 and l In :I Speedometer mounting for vehicles, 11, connected to the upper ends of the tubes 8 the C OmblnatlOIl With a Steering post and a and 9 res ctively and extending beyond and steering wheel mounted thereon, of a supportover the ront side of the annular portion of 111g tube extending through said post and the steerin wheel, to be shifted and operated non-rotatably fixed relative thereto, said tube freely. T e outer side of the supporting having an enlarged supporting portion at the member 16 may be flush with or extended end contiguous to said wheel, said supportslightly beyond the outer' face of the annular* ing portion being spaced from said wheel, a portio of the steering wheel, as shown.' speedometer mounted on said supporting por- In t e cuter side 0f the supporting memtion, a siiiall rigid shaft revolubly mounted ber 16, is provided a deep 4recess 16l in which Within said tube and operatively connected is mounted the s eedometer 17, the eonnectat, 011 end t0 the back Side of said speed ing boss 17a 0f w ich extends preferably inte ometer, 4and a exible cable directly connectthe upper end of the stationary tube 14. The 111g the end of said shaft extending beyond center or axis of the recess 16 is preferably Sald tube to a revolving part o f the vehicle. positioned eccentrically relative to the axis 2. III pedmetl IIlOlllltlpg fOI Vehloles, of the supporting member 16 and the steer.- tho C omblllation with a steering post and a ing wheel 4, Thug e, space is provided ai; the steering wheel mounted thereon and provided opposite side of the axis of the stationary with a hollow hub, of a supporting tube ex-v Supporting member 16, between the Speede'mtending through said post and nonrotatably eter 17 and the lower side of the member 16, fixed rela-UVB theretmsald tube havlng an enfor a signal button 18 or other switch mechalarged supporting portion at the end contig;- nism or means. ous to said hub, said supporting portion The speedometer 17 is operated by e, Smell in positioned Within and spaced from said rigid shaft 19 which connects the speedomhu and 9 SReedOmetelf mollllted 111 thellpeter at the back side thereof with a flexible porting ortion of said tube lsubstantially cable 20 usually employed in connecting e flush wit the front sideof the hub of the moving part of the automobile with the Steering Wheel.

speedometer. The shaft 19 is revolubly 3. In a Speedome ter mounting for vehicles` mounted in a casing or tube 21 which is sethe COmblnatloll With a steering Apost and a cured at its lower or forward end in the head Steering wheel mounted lthereon and provided portionof the cap 15 and is positioned at its with a hollow hub, o f a supporting tube exupper end by a head meinLer 22 positioned at tending through said post and non-rotatably the upper end of the stationar tube 14. The fixed relative thereto, s id tube having an iiexible tube 23 in which the exible shaft 20 enlarged supporting porti n at the end conis mountedyis connected with an extended tiguoustosaid lWheesaid supporting portion being spaced from said wheel, and a speedometer mounted within the supporting portion of said tube and substantially flush with the hub, a' speedometer drive means extending through said tube and operatively Connected with said speedometer, and vehicle Control levers positioned in the hollow portion of the hub outside ofsaid supporting portion with their ends extending beyond the hub.

4. In a' speedometer mounting for Vehicles, the combination with a hollow steering post and a steering wheel rotatably mounted at the outer end thereof, Said wheel having al hollow hub, of fuel and ignition control tubes, the one being rotatable within the other and the other rotatable within the steering post, a stationary supporting tube extending kthrou h said tubes and said post and nonrotata ly fixed relative to said post, a supporting means mounted at the outer end of said supporting tube positioned within the hollow hub and spaced from the walls thereof, a speedometer supported within said supporting means, a speedometer drive means extending through said supporting tube and connected with said speedometer, and fuel and ignition control levers Connected to said fuel and ignition control tubes and extending through and beyond the space bet-Ween said hub and said supporting means.

In testimon whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at an Diego,-Ca1ifornia, this 30 day of August, 1926.

' WILLIAM H. WHEELER. 

